LONDON, April 01, SPA -- Britain's Defense Secretary will tellLawmakers Tuesday that British troops will not be pulledout of Iraq as planned due to a recent surge in violencethere. The Defense Ministry said Des Browne would tell the Houseof Commons that the scheduled withdrawal of around 1,500British troops was being put on hold. Prime Minister Gordon Brown said late last year the numberof British forces would be reduced to 2,500 starting in thespring, if commanders approved the plan. Britain has around 4,000 troops stationed at an air baseon the fringe of the southern Iraqi city of Basra. Forceswithdrew from the city center late last year and have sincefocused only on training Iraqi troops and police, according to a report of the Associated Press.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/541969